Capital Region turnout: 'High level of enthusiasm'

Staff reports

Updated
8:05 pm EST, Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Voters fill out their ballots at the Saratoga City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Along with voting for candidates, voters in Saratoga Springs are voting on an amendment that if passed would change the city's charter. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union) less

Voters fill out their ballots at the Saratoga City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Along with voting for candidates, voters in Saratoga Springs are voting on an amendment that if ... more

Voters fill out their ballots at the Saratoga City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Along with voting for candidates, voters in Saratoga Springs are voting on an amendment that if passed would change the city's charter. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union) less

Voters fill out their ballots at the Saratoga City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Along with voting for candidates, voters in Saratoga Springs are voting on an amendment that if ... more

A steady and at times pounding rain didn't deter voters Tuesday from casting ballots across the Capital Region.

Like the precipitation, heavy turnout was reported across the region — a development that matched voting trends across the nation.

At 4 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall, turnout was as heavy as it was for the 2016 presidential election, poll worker Patty Poulette said.

"We've easily seen 1,000 people," Poulette said. "It's double than what we usually expect for a midterm."

Just down the street at Gavin Park — where residents in 12 of Wilton's 15 districts votes — there was a tangle of cars with people waiting, albeit briefly, in line.

Dorothy Schoonmaker and her sister Pat Stevenson were among the voters. "We come out because it's our civic duty," the 55-year-old Schoonmaker said. "But also, if you want to see change you must come out to vote."

Polling places were also busy in Saratoga Springs, where voters were determining the fate of another charter referendum. Workers were reminding voters to flip their ballots to cast their vote on the two charter questions. Most did not want to say how they voted on the charter, which has been a contentious issue in the city for years.

Earlier in the day at Robin Street in Albany, poll workers said turnout was steady, with 114 voters by 11:30 a.m. On Orange Street, there was a similar turnout. Kimberly Ellis said she was thinking of Americans who had fought for her right to vote.

"It's a way for us to be heard, for us to make a difference," she said.

At Sand Creek Middle School in Colonie, election inspectors saw a similar boost. Workers there said people had lined up before the polls opened at 6 a.m. and they had an increase in first-time voters as well. Nearly 570 votes had been cast by noon.

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Elections officials said voters were out in greater numbers than usual in the early hours.

"I think there's a high level of enthusiasm," said Rachel Bledi, the Republican commissioner for the Albany County Board of Elections. She said additional ballots were being prepared far earlier than usual.

An election worker at the Bethlehem Lutheran church polling station in Delmar said she had not seen a turnout like this year since in 2008, when President Barack Obama was first elected. She said it seemed more like a presidential election than a midterm.

The heavy turnout came with some confusion.

Several voters in Schenectady showed up to support Democratic congressional hopeful Antonio Delgado, only to learn they did not reside in the 19th Congressional District, where Delgado was challenging U.S. Rep. John Faso. Delgado has roots in the city.

Upon discovering his name wasn't on their ballot, some of the voters asked about writing in Delgado's name. Schenectady County is part of the 20th District, where U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, faced Joe Vitollo.

Elisa Jarvis, the Republican Board of Elections commissioner for Greene County, said phone calls showed considerably more activity at the voting booths from most midterm years.

"Absentee (ballot)-wise it's way over what we normally have in a governor year — huge," Jarvis said. "It's actually bigger than presidential year (numbers)."

The ride-sharing company Lyft offered 50 percent off rides to and from polling places in Albany,

The Capital District Transportation Authority also offered free rides for STAR customers — many of whom are disabled — to polling places in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties.

In Guilderland, 27-year-old Lauryn Schrom — a graphic designer who did not vote in the last midterm election — said she made a point to do it this time because of her dissatisfaction with President Donald J. Trump's administration.

She said recent political events had "opened my eyes" on issues like civil rights and women's rights.

At the Bethlehem Lutheran church polling place in Delmar, several voters said Trump's election and subsequent behavior was an extra incentive to vote this year.

Michelle Sanchez, an active Air National Guard member, didn't want to directly criticize the president. "He is my commander-in-chief, so I will not badmouth him," she said. "His style is not my style."

While standing on the brief line inside the church on Elm Avenue, one older gentleman commented, "I haven't done this in 20 years."